How to curb anxiety about sleeping is also called somniphobia. Why do I feel anxious before bed? My story is a weird one. I was having anxiety before bed because my mind was playing tricks on me. I would fall asleep, and about an hour or two I would wake up startled. At first I didn’t know why. I kept seeing these images, but it was hard to see because of the darkness of the room.
After a few days, I decided to play a game with these images. I caught a better glimpse of the first image, and it made me laugh. It was like a huge fluffy spider that would come down from the ceiling. I realized this could be the start of a new schizophrenia episode. Maybe it was, I don’t know.
So, over the course of a few weeks, various animals showed up to wake me up. Now these are all animals that I’m afraid of. Something showed up beside my bed, right next to my face. I went flying out of the bed fast. I couldn’t tell what it was. It came to the point that I was afraid to fall asleep, hence the insomnia started.
No matter how exhausted I was, I wouldn’t sleep during the night. I slept a little bit as daylight peaked. So, I was getting inadequate sleep. It took a toll on me. I was having a hard time functioning during the day. Then I did some research on what could help me fall asleep and stay asleep, and found one herb that changed everything.
Anxiety Causes Insomnia
I have problems with episodes of schizophrenia, and I realized this might be one of them. I thought this is what can trigger my anxiety. But, I was still grieving over putting my cat down, and the anxiety of going through life without him was unbearable. I was taking an anti anxiety med, but it wasn’t helping.
So, I thought maybe the anxiety was causing the insomnia and images. The anxiety was so bad, I couldn’t stop shaking and moving around constantly. Also, I thought the images might be from my overacted mind. The images were all things I was afraid of. There were all these possibilities.
My Mind is Always Racing
How to curb anxiety about sleeping by stopping racing thoughts. My mind is always racing with insignificant thoughts that don’t make any sense. What’s funny is I can write these posts, and my mind is clear as day, but when I stop, it goes back to racing thoughts. Although nowadays, they’re not so bad.
Back then, I had racing thoughts about what the images were and what significance they were (I always have to know why). Like I said, they started after my cat was put to sleep., so the anxiety was high.
The racing thoughts at night kept going until I took this one herb. I fell asleep quickly and slept through the night. It was a miracle for me. No more bad images or waking up repeatedly. I’m not afraid to go to sleep anymore.
I don’t know what can trigger anxiety in that way, but I’m grateful it’s over with. Although lately, I don’t fall asleep until 1 am or 2 am, and wake up around 10 am. I’ll take it!
Tense and Anxious
Sleep deprivation anxiety is not fun to deal with, on top of regular anxiety. Restlessness settles in, and it’s hard to get rid of. I felt so tense and anxious, no wonder I couldn’t sleep. Then I tried meditating.
Meditation has been a game changer for my sleep deprivation anxiety. It helps me calm my mind and release all the tension built up in my body. By focusing on my breath and clearing out any intrusive thoughts, I can relax and fall into deep sleep.
But it’s not just about falling asleep, meditation also helps improve the quality of my sleep. When I wake up after a night of meditating, I feel more rested and rejuvenated than ever before. My mind is clear and ready to take on the day, without the lingering fog of sleepless nights.
I highly recommend trying out meditation for anyone struggling with sleep deprivation or anxiety. It may take some practice to get used to, but the benefits are worth the effort.
Afraid to Fall Asleep Anxiety
I had “afraid to fall asleep” anxiety. Therefore, I was afraid of being jolted awake to something I thought was there, but not quite sure. I don’t believe I had any nightmares, because it started about an hour after I fell asleep.
For some reason, undenounced to me, I felt that three am was a safe time to fall asleep. I didn’t have any problems after that time. Again, I know this sounds like schizophrenia, but I felt it was my brain taking my worst fears and metamorphosing them. I know, you’re saying that schizophrenia. You could be right, but I’m not so sure.
I was always feeling nervous when bedtime anxiety came around. I was so afraid of falling asleep that some nights I would force myself to stay awake all night no matter how tired I was. Insomnia set in.
Inability to Relax
How to curb anxiety about sleeping by using coping skills to relax. The inability to relax became all the time. If I had been on an anti anxiety med that worked, maybe I never would have gone through all this. Oh well, I can’t change the past, but now I look forward to the future…and sleep.
Now, it feels so good to be relaxed, since my med was changed to Klonopin. Until then, I thought I forgot how to remain calm. My sleeping patterns are normal now. I sleep through the night (no scary animals).
I had sleep anxiety until I made this last ditch effort on one herb. It made me a whole person again. My mind is free and clear of any anxiety about sleeping. Good thing I didn’t give up, because I was heading for another inpatient hospital visit. Thank you, God.
Sleep Phobia
Sleep phobia, also known as somniphobia or hypnophobia, is an intense fear of falling asleep. People with this phobia may experience extreme anxiety and fear around the idea of sleeping. Concerns can trigger nightmares, sleep paralysis, or even fear of dying in their sleep.
This phobia can be extremely debilitating and can severely impact a person’s life. It can lead to difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, and even avoiding sleep altogether. This fear can disrupt daily routines and cause significant distress for those affected.
The exact cause of sleep phobia is not fully understood, but it is believed to develop from past traumatic experiences with sleep or anxiety disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Genetics may also play a role in the development of this phobia.
Symptoms of sleep phobia may include increased heart rate, sweating, trembling, nausea, and feelings of dread when thinking about going to bed. These symptoms may also occur during an actual attempt to fall asleep.
How to Overcome Fear at Night
Extreme CBT
How to curb anxiety about sleeping with extreme CBT. Extreme CBT is a newer type of therapy that tackles both the physical and emotional impact of trauma. It’s based on traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps people recognize and change their thoughts and behaviors, but takes a more focused and intense approach to trauma-related challenges.
A big part of extreme CBT is exposure therapy, where people gradually face their traumatic memories and experiences in a safe, controlled environment. This helps them work through their emotions in a therapeutic setting, allowing them to slowly tackle the fears and anxieties tied to their trauma.
A key part of extreme CBT is bringing physical activities into therapy sessions. This could mean trying things like martial arts, boxing, or even dancing. These activities let people release built-up energy and tension tied to their trauma, while also boosting self-confidence and empowerment.
Extreme CBT also focuses on the mind-body connection, recognizing that trauma not only affects our thoughts and behaviors, but also has a physical impact on our bodies.
Valerian Root
How to curb anxiety about sleeping with Valerian Root. Valerian Root is the herb that changed my life for the better. The first night I took it, I fell asleep immediately and stayed asleep. What can I take to relieve the anxiety? I was put on Klonopin, so my anxiety was finally under control. I learned how to relax when anxious. However, the insomnia wasn’t gone.
That was the past piece to the puzzle, so I did some research in my herb book. I came up with Valerian Root. The best thing about it is there are no side effects. So, I don’t wake up groggy in the morning.
I take the suggested amount, two capsules at night. I bought it from Amazon at $9.99 for 120 capsules. It’s one of the best herbs I have tried for sleep. I can’t praise it enough!
Sum It All Up
Yes, Valerian Root is one of the best herbs I’ve tried for how to curb anxiety about sleeping. I know many of you think the images I supposedly saw were schizo, but I’m not so sure. I believe it was my brain, along with the anxiety playing tricks on me.
The anxiety was the fuel for the fire. And even after the anxiety died down, I still had insomnia, because that is the pattern I was used to. Plus, the images stopped before I started to take Valerian Root.
Consequently, I’m now taking two herbs (the other-Ginkgo Biloba), which have no side effects. I suggest buying a good herb book and reading up on all the herbs that could potentially help you. I can’t praise them enough. Peace and always love. Until next time…
Articles About Anxiety About Sleep
Tips for beating anxiety to get a better night’s sleep
Sleep anxiety: why you get anxious at night (and what to do)
Have a Good One,
Cindee Murphy
“One Voice Experienced In Anxiety About Sleeping”
“A ruffled mind makes a restless pillow.” — Charlotte Bronte
“My eyelids are heavy, but my thoughts are heavier.” — Unknown
“Dear Mind, please stop thinking so much at night, I need sleep.” — Unknown
“Nothing cures insomnia like the realization that it’s time to get up.” — Unknown
“My day starts backwards … I wake up tired and go to bed wide awake.” — Unknown
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